Food Insecurity Screening Questionnaire and Suggestions · insecurity screening and assistance...
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Food Insecurity Screening Questionnaire and Suggestions for Creating a Park and Recreation Food Insecurity Screening and Assistance Practice Many children experience hunger due to not being in school where they may receive free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunches. How do you know if children in your programs and their families are hungry? And what can you do about it? The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has created some tools for you to help children and families with food insecurity— check these out and share them broadly so children can receive the food and good nutrition they need for their growing bodies. Because park and recreation agencies see many children and adults on a regular basis, you are in a unique position to help identify and assist children and families who are experiencing food insecurity or are at risk of being food insecure. If you find out some of the children and/or families you serve are food insecure, you may be able to help them get some food support from federal food programs 1 and/or community organizations. 2 Child Hunger How do you determine if a child at your park and recreation site is food insecure? You can start by observing children in your programs — do any of them display some common signs of hunger in the list below? 1. They ask for food every day, and they are not picky. 2. They suddenly lose or gain weight (low-price, low-quality food typically is high in calories/sugar and results in weight gain). 3. They hoard snacks and food. 4. They are bullying or behaving badly. 5. Their teeth are decaying (due to consuming too much processed foods with sugar). 3 Adult Food Insecurity Screening Questions If it appears that a child is hungry, the next step may be to reach out to their parents or the adult who cares for them. Adult screening for food insecurity can be done quickly, and in a non-threatening way. Experts in food insecurity have found that asking adults just two questions is a reliable and valid way to find out if they are food insecure. 4 The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Food Research & Action Center suggested the following scenario for asking the two questions: 5 I’m going to read you two statements that people have made about their food situation. For each statement, please tell me whether the statement was often true, sometimes true, or never true for your household in the last 12 months. 1. “We worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more.” Was that often true, sometimes true, or never true for your household in the last 12 months? 2. “The food that we brought just didn’t last, and we didn’t have money to get more.” Was that often, sometimes, or never true for your household in the last 12 months? A response of “often” or “sometimes” to either question means the family is food insecure.
Transcript of Food Insecurity Screening Questionnaire and Suggestions · insecurity screening and assistance...
Food Insecurity Screening Questionnaire and Suggestionsfor Creating a Park and Recreation Food Insecurity Screening and Assistance Practice
Many children experience hunger due to not being in school where they may receive free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunches How do you know if children in your programs and their families are hungry And what can you do about it The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has created some tools for you to help children and families with food insecuritymdash check these out and share them broadly so children can receive the food and good nutrition they need for their growing bodies
Because park and recreation agencies see many children and adults on a regular basis you are in a unique position to help identify and assist children and families who are experiencing food insecurity or are at risk of being food insecure If you find out some of the children andor families you serve are food insecure you may be able to help them get some food support from federal food programs1 andor community organizations2
Child HungerHow do you determine if a child at your park and recreation site is food insecure You can start by observing children in your programs mdash do any of them display some common signs of hunger in the list below
1 They ask for food every day and they are not picky
2 They suddenly lose or gain weight (low-price low-quality food typically is high in caloriessugar and results in weight gain)
3 They hoard snacks and food
4 They are bullying or behaving badly
5 Their teeth are decaying (due to consuming too much processed foods with sugar)3
Adult Food Insecurity Screening Questions
If it appears that a child is hungry the next step may be to reach out to their parents or the adult who cares for them Adult screening for food insecurity can be done quickly and in a non-threatening way Experts in food insecurity have found that asking adults just two questions is a reliable and valid way to find out if they are food insecure4 The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Food Research amp Action Center suggested the following scenario for asking the two questions5
Irsquom going to read you two statements that people have made about their food situation For each statement please tell me whether the statement was often true sometimes true or never true for your household in the last 12 months
1 ldquoWe worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy morerdquo Was that often true sometimes true or never true for your household in the last 12 months
2 ldquoThe food that we brought just didnrsquot last and we didnrsquot have money to get morerdquo Was that often sometimes or never true for your household in the last 12 months
A response of ldquooftenrdquo or ldquosometimesrdquo to either question means the family is food insecure
Food Insecurity Screening and Assistance as a Park and Recreation Practice Depending on the priorities and resources at your park and recreation site you may decide to implement a food insecurity screening and assistance practice at your park and recreation site Below are some strategies for implementing such a practice at your park and recreation site
bull Include food insecurity screening questions as part of your program registration processes including the questions in written form with other paperwork Also consider handing out food assistance information during registration events
bull Ensure all staff know some of the signs of child hunger your sitersquos procedure for handling potential child hunger and some of the food resources in your community
bull Designate one staff member to be the food insecurity point-of-contact a ldquoHunger Championrdquo who can receive reports of potential child hunger from other staff administer the food insecurity screening questions assist families with securing resources for food (SNAP WIC community food resources) and generally keep the food insecurity screening and referral process updated and implemented at all times (see checklists included elsewhere in this set of resources)
bull Show sensitivity when talking with parents and caregivers about food insecurity Parents and caregivers may feel a sense of shame embarrassment or even fear when talking about food insecurity so it is important to show compassion and care when screening for and addressing food insecurity Parents and caregivers also may not want to talk about food insecurity in front of their children so consider ways to create an ldquoadult-onlyrdquo space for food insecurity conversations
bull Post information about federal food programs and local community food assistance at your park and recreation site and make information available as a handout as well This can help destigmatize the use of federal nutrition programs and reinforce how they help children and adults stay healthy by eating well Donrsquot forget to include your Hunger Championrsquos contact information on some of the materials perhaps post a sheet of paper whereby parents can tear off your Hunger Championrsquos contact information
bull Consider inviting community partners who assist with food insecurity (food banks farmers marketsCSAs that accept SNAP etc) to your events mdash registration events health fairs picnics parent meetings once-a-month at child pick up or other times when parents and caregivers of children in need are at your park and recreation site
bull Consider evaluating the impact of your food insecurity screening and assistance practice to determine how effective you have been and where improvements in the process can be made Set a schedule for conducting your evaluation (phases of your evaluation) so you donrsquot forget to do it
Nutrition Supports for Food Insecurity FamiliesThere are a number of federal and community-based nutrition supports for families you serve Included in this toolkit are the SNAP and WIC Eligibility Checklist and the SNAP and WIC Enrollment Assistance Checklist mdash use these to help you connect families in need with federal food program such as those found below
Name of Program Age of Participant Food Resources Provided
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly ldquoFood Stampsrdquo)
For all agesMonthly benefit to buy food at grocery stores corner markets some farmers markets and other food retailers
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program Free and Reduced-price Meals Program
Children K to 12Children can receive free or reduced-prices meals at schools that participate in this program
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Afterschool Snacks
Children K to 12
Children can receive one snack per day if enrolled in regularly scheduled activities in a structured and supervised environment including an educational or enrichment activity where the NSLP is offered
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Afterschool SnacksChild and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
Children up to age five
Adults
Up to two free meals and a snack for infants and young children at child care centers Head Start and Early Head Start as well as adults who are enrolled for care at participating day care homes and adult day care centers
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Children 18 and underUp to two free meals per day at approved school and community sites during summer break
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC)
Pregnant postpartum and breastfeeding women infants children
up to age five
Resources to buy nutritionally-specified foods at grocery and food stores that accept WIC
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
All agesEmergency food items distributed through pantries schools faith-based organizations and others
At the state and local level identify the central coordinator for anti-hunger support in your state These organizations help connect food insecure families not only to federal nutrition programs but also to state programs (usually responsible for school meals child care meals and out-of-school time meals) and community-based assistance (such as food banks community pantries etc) Find some of these anti-hunger organizations at bitlystatehungerassist Make sure your statersquos organizations are included on your food assistance referral list and this list is provided to staff and families in need
Some helpful resources for creating your park and recreation food insecurity Screening and Assistance Practice are found below
bull SNAP fnsusdagovsnapstate-directory
bull WIC bitlyWICinfoNRPA
bull Feeding America feedingamericaorg and hungerandhealthfeedingamericaorg
bull Local food banks feedingamericaorgfind-your-local-foodbank
bull State Anti-hunger Organizations bitlystatehungerassist
1USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP used to be called Food Stamps] Women Infants and Children [WIC] Free and Reduced Priced Meals of the USDA National School Lunch Program2Such as food banks church food pantries soup kitchens etc3Find more details of these five signs of hunger at bitlyhungersigns4Questions are based on the US Household Food Security Survey5Addressing Food Insecurity A Toolkit for Pediatricians 2017 Feb American Academy of Pediatrics and the Food Research amp Action Center fracorgwp-contentuploadsfrac-aap-toolkitpdf (accessed on May 1 2020)
Food Insecurity Screening and Assistance as a Park and Recreation Practice Depending on the priorities and resources at your park and recreation site you may decide to implement a food insecurity screening and assistance practice at your park and recreation site Below are some strategies for implementing such a practice at your park and recreation site
bull Include food insecurity screening questions as part of your program registration processes including the questions in written form with other paperwork Also consider handing out food assistance information during registration events
bull Ensure all staff know some of the signs of child hunger your sitersquos procedure for handling potential child hunger and some of the food resources in your community
bull Designate one staff member to be the food insecurity point-of-contact a ldquoHunger Championrdquo who can receive reports of potential child hunger from other staff administer the food insecurity screening questions assist families with securing resources for food (SNAP WIC community food resources) and generally keep the food insecurity screening and referral process updated and implemented at all times (see checklists included elsewhere in this set of resources)
bull Show sensitivity when talking with parents and caregivers about food insecurity Parents and caregivers may feel a sense of shame embarrassment or even fear when talking about food insecurity so it is important to show compassion and care when screening for and addressing food insecurity Parents and caregivers also may not want to talk about food insecurity in front of their children so consider ways to create an ldquoadult-onlyrdquo space for food insecurity conversations
bull Post information about federal food programs and local community food assistance at your park and recreation site and make information available as a handout as well This can help destigmatize the use of federal nutrition programs and reinforce how they help children and adults stay healthy by eating well Donrsquot forget to include your Hunger Championrsquos contact information on some of the materials perhaps post a sheet of paper whereby parents can tear off your Hunger Championrsquos contact information
bull Consider inviting community partners who assist with food insecurity (food banks farmers marketsCSAs that accept SNAP etc) to your events mdash registration events health fairs picnics parent meetings once-a-month at child pick up or other times when parents and caregivers of children in need are at your park and recreation site
bull Consider evaluating the impact of your food insecurity screening and assistance practice to determine how effective you have been and where improvements in the process can be made Set a schedule for conducting your evaluation (phases of your evaluation) so you donrsquot forget to do it
Nutrition Supports for Food Insecurity FamiliesThere are a number of federal and community-based nutrition supports for families you serve Included in this toolkit are the SNAP and WIC Eligibility Checklist and the SNAP and WIC Enrollment Assistance Checklist mdash use these to help you connect families in need with federal food program such as those found below
Name of Program Age of Participant Food Resources Provided
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly ldquoFood Stampsrdquo)
For all agesMonthly benefit to buy food at grocery stores corner markets some farmers markets and other food retailers
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program Free and Reduced-price Meals Program
Children K to 12Children can receive free or reduced-prices meals at schools that participate in this program
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Afterschool Snacks
Children K to 12
Children can receive one snack per day if enrolled in regularly scheduled activities in a structured and supervised environment including an educational or enrichment activity where the NSLP is offered
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Afterschool SnacksChild and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
Children up to age five
Adults
Up to two free meals and a snack for infants and young children at child care centers Head Start and Early Head Start as well as adults who are enrolled for care at participating day care homes and adult day care centers
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Children 18 and underUp to two free meals per day at approved school and community sites during summer break
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC)
Pregnant postpartum and breastfeeding women infants children
up to age five
Resources to buy nutritionally-specified foods at grocery and food stores that accept WIC
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
All agesEmergency food items distributed through pantries schools faith-based organizations and others
At the state and local level identify the central coordinator for anti-hunger support in your state These organizations help connect food insecure families not only to federal nutrition programs but also to state programs (usually responsible for school meals child care meals and out-of-school time meals) and community-based assistance (such as food banks community pantries etc) Find some of these anti-hunger organizations at bitlystatehungerassist Make sure your statersquos organizations are included on your food assistance referral list and this list is provided to staff and families in need
Some helpful resources for creating your park and recreation food insecurity Screening and Assistance Practice are found below
bull SNAP fnsusdagovsnapstate-directory
bull WIC bitlyWICinfoNRPA
bull Feeding America feedingamericaorg and hungerandhealthfeedingamericaorg
bull Local food banks feedingamericaorgfind-your-local-foodbank
bull State Anti-hunger Organizations bitlystatehungerassist
1USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP used to be called Food Stamps] Women Infants and Children [WIC] Free and Reduced Priced Meals of the USDA National School Lunch Program2Such as food banks church food pantries soup kitchens etc3Find more details of these five signs of hunger at bitlyhungersigns4Questions are based on the US Household Food Security Survey5Addressing Food Insecurity A Toolkit for Pediatricians 2017 Feb American Academy of Pediatrics and the Food Research amp Action Center fracorgwp-contentuploadsfrac-aap-toolkitpdf (accessed on May 1 2020)
Nutrition Supports for Food Insecurity FamiliesThere are a number of federal and community-based nutrition supports for families you serve Included in this toolkit are the SNAP and WIC Eligibility Checklist and the SNAP and WIC Enrollment Assistance Checklist mdash use these to help you connect families in need with federal food program such as those found below
Name of Program Age of Participant Food Resources Provided
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly ldquoFood Stampsrdquo)
For all agesMonthly benefit to buy food at grocery stores corner markets some farmers markets and other food retailers
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program Free and Reduced-price Meals Program
Children K to 12Children can receive free or reduced-prices meals at schools that participate in this program
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Afterschool Snacks
Children K to 12
Children can receive one snack per day if enrolled in regularly scheduled activities in a structured and supervised environment including an educational or enrichment activity where the NSLP is offered
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Afterschool SnacksChild and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
Children up to age five
Adults
Up to two free meals and a snack for infants and young children at child care centers Head Start and Early Head Start as well as adults who are enrolled for care at participating day care homes and adult day care centers
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Children 18 and underUp to two free meals per day at approved school and community sites during summer break
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC)
Pregnant postpartum and breastfeeding women infants children
up to age five
Resources to buy nutritionally-specified foods at grocery and food stores that accept WIC
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
All agesEmergency food items distributed through pantries schools faith-based organizations and others
At the state and local level identify the central coordinator for anti-hunger support in your state These organizations help connect food insecure families not only to federal nutrition programs but also to state programs (usually responsible for school meals child care meals and out-of-school time meals) and community-based assistance (such as food banks community pantries etc) Find some of these anti-hunger organizations at bitlystatehungerassist Make sure your statersquos organizations are included on your food assistance referral list and this list is provided to staff and families in need
Some helpful resources for creating your park and recreation food insecurity Screening and Assistance Practice are found below
bull SNAP fnsusdagovsnapstate-directory
bull WIC bitlyWICinfoNRPA
bull Feeding America feedingamericaorg and hungerandhealthfeedingamericaorg
bull Local food banks feedingamericaorgfind-your-local-foodbank
bull State Anti-hunger Organizations bitlystatehungerassist
1USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP used to be called Food Stamps] Women Infants and Children [WIC] Free and Reduced Priced Meals of the USDA National School Lunch Program2Such as food banks church food pantries soup kitchens etc3Find more details of these five signs of hunger at bitlyhungersigns4Questions are based on the US Household Food Security Survey5Addressing Food Insecurity A Toolkit for Pediatricians 2017 Feb American Academy of Pediatrics and the Food Research amp Action Center fracorgwp-contentuploadsfrac-aap-toolkitpdf (accessed on May 1 2020)
At the state and local level identify the central coordinator for anti-hunger support in your state These organizations help connect food insecure families not only to federal nutrition programs but also to state programs (usually responsible for school meals child care meals and out-of-school time meals) and community-based assistance (such as food banks community pantries etc) Find some of these anti-hunger organizations at bitlystatehungerassist Make sure your statersquos organizations are included on your food assistance referral list and this list is provided to staff and families in need
Some helpful resources for creating your park and recreation food insecurity Screening and Assistance Practice are found below
bull SNAP fnsusdagovsnapstate-directory
bull WIC bitlyWICinfoNRPA
bull Feeding America feedingamericaorg and hungerandhealthfeedingamericaorg
bull Local food banks feedingamericaorgfind-your-local-foodbank
bull State Anti-hunger Organizations bitlystatehungerassist
1USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP used to be called Food Stamps] Women Infants and Children [WIC] Free and Reduced Priced Meals of the USDA National School Lunch Program2Such as food banks church food pantries soup kitchens etc3Find more details of these five signs of hunger at bitlyhungersigns4Questions are based on the US Household Food Security Survey5Addressing Food Insecurity A Toolkit for Pediatricians 2017 Feb American Academy of Pediatrics and the Food Research amp Action Center fracorgwp-contentuploadsfrac-aap-toolkitpdf (accessed on May 1 2020)
